4 July 2004 - Shocking Figures in Defective School Vehicles
An operation conducted last week in Scotland by the Vehicle Operator Service Agency (VOSA) outside Blair Drummond Safari Park, Stirlingshire, highlighted some shocking figures concerning some local authority education departments and bus contractors are not taking passenger safety seriously.
Some alarming figures found are:
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31 of 72 coaches inspected failed to meet basic safety standards
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6 were sufficiently dangerous to be removed from the road immediately by transporters
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1 coach had no MOT
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some drivers exceeding working hour limits.
The operation resulted in several reports being sent to the local Procurator Fiscal's office.
Similarly last week In Wales, Operation Coachman tested 62 vehicles that had just dropped off children at Ystrad Mynach schools and discovered 9 of them to be defective. Chief Inspector John Pavett of Gwent Police offered his assurance to parents that the relevant agencies will not tolerate defective vehicles ferrying school children.
